Lowndes County residents share concerns about proposed data center in hours-long town hall meeting

A standing-room-only crowd filled the Lowndes County Commission chamber on April 28 as residents delivered hours of testimony opposing a proposed billion‑dollar data center.

The 800-acre site is in the Burkville area near the intersection of Highways 80 and 21 and being brokered by Cloverleaf Infrastructure out of Houston, Texas.

Much of the testimony focused on the location of the proposed facility and its potential impact on nearby homes and the loss of the rural makeup. Others raised concerns about noise, emissions, water use and electricity demand. 

Cattleman Bradfield Evans, who farms near the proposed site, told commissioners the project would “destroy the fabric of the community.” Evans urged the commission to obtain an independent environmental study.

Several speakers warned that data centers often attract additional facilities. “One doesn’t just show up and nothing else happens,” Evans said. “There’s going to be a substation. There’s likely going to be solar panels. There’s going to be another data center.”

Pastors and longtime residents also framed the issue as a moral one. One pastor told commissioners, “Not everything that is profitable is righteous,” and asked, “What does it profit Lowndes County if we gain a data center and you lose health… lose trust… lose land?”

Others questioned the commission’s past decisions, including its rejection of a solar project two years ago. One resident asked, “What is the difference between the solar panel issue versus the data center?” She also criticized road conditions, garbage service and the lack of street signs, saying basic needs should come before new development.

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Longtime resident and business owner Shaquita Searle said the project would harm farmers, schoolchildren and families. “No, we do not need the data center in Lowndes County,” she said. “It’s going to affect our crops, our cattle, the whole community.”

Some speakers accused commissioners of favoritism or political motivations and residents repeatedly called for transparency and for the commission to slow down.

Cloverleaf recently issued a press release touting the positive impact the data center would have and pledged up to $10 million to support local needs and priorities in the area, with an initial $1 million up front and an additional $9 million to be distributed as the project advances through development.”

Thomas Ellis, who for the past 15 years has been a volunteer on the Lowndes County Economic Development Commission, said. “This work has never been about compensation. It's always been about responsibility that I feel that I have to my county, to my kids.” 

Ellis told the crowd that there are representatives from four electric companies, local water boards and other respected community leaders on the team trying to make the data center project happen. He did admit he does not know much about data centers but is learning and will help the county commission make the best decision.

The commission did not take action on the data center proposal Tuesday night. Resident Gwen Johnson stood and asked commissioners directly whether they supported or opposed the project. Only Commissioner Joseph Farrior responded. “I’m against it,” Farrior said. No other commissioner answered Johnson’s question.

According to the Stop the Lowndes Co AL Data Center Facebook page, there will be an open meeting with Cloverleaf “sometime in May” and the courthouse has been suggested as the venue. There will be a Lowndesboro Town Hall meeting Sunday, May 3 at 5 p.m. at CME Church in Lowndesboro. Speakers will be Judge Adrian Johnson and Jeff Berry. Berry is a Lowndesboro resident with over 36 years managing and operating data centers.